National Disability Insurance Scheme to start across the Hunter on July 1

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, said the introduction of the NDIS would change lives.

“In a few short weeks, many people with disability and their families will for the first time have real choice and control over their own lives,” Mr MacDonald said.

“Importantly, everyone will share in the benefits of the NDIS. Having the NDIS in the Hunter will create many jobs and boost funding to more than $1,040 million a year in the region by 2019.”

Service providers including Cerebral Palsy Alliance and Life Without Barriers would continue their important work, he said.

“The NDIS means more people with disability will get support, more jobs and funding for these regions and more growth,” NSW Minister for Disability Services John Ajaka said.

“Together with our partners in the government and the non-government sector, we have been working hard to ensure NSW is NDIS-ready.”

Once people currently receiving disability funding and supports in NSW transition to the Commonwealth scheme, there would be capacity to consider people who may be new to disability funding and supports, and introduce these eligible people to the NDIS, the minister said.